Hydraulic pipe tonging device



Feb. 3, 1959 v B. F. KELLEY 2,

HYDRAULIC PIPE TONGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNVEN TOR.

BY -/a&

ATTORNEY 1959 B. F. KELLEY 2,871,743

HYDRAULIC PIPE TONGING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1958INVENTOR.

BY A%WE- Feb. 3, 1959 B. F. kELLEY 2,

HYDRAULIC PIPE TONGING DEVICE v I Filed Feb. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Ben/00707 f /Ke/ /ey INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent HYDRAULIC PIPE TONGING DEVICE Benjamin F.Kelley, Tulsa, Okla. Application February 10,1958, Serial No. 714,366

14 Claims. (Cl. 81-53) This invention relates to a wrench or tongingdevice of the type ordinarily used in handling oil well drill pipe andcasing and is directed more particularly to a hydraulic arrangement forsupporting and operating the tongs in making-up and breakin -out wellpipe strings.

The more conventional pipe tongs employed for breaking-out and making-upthe joints of drill pipe or casing in oil well operations usuallycomprise separate tongs, one serving as a back-up wrench and the otherserving as a drive wrench, which are independently applied to the jointelements of a pipe connection. Ordinarily, the drive wrench employed tomake-up or break-out the pipe joint is suspended on a cable or cat linefrom a well derrick and is swung into position about the upper elementof a pipe joint by the operator, generally after the backup tong hasbeen put in place about the lower section of the pipe. In addition tothe manual effort and hazards sometimes attendant upon the handling ofthe tongs in this conventional arrangement, the force applied to thedrive tong ordinarily will introduce a bending moment into the pipestring at the joint, which is damaging to the pipe and its connection tothe joint or coupling elements. Moreover, the force applied in making-upjoints is ordinarily not subjectto any positive control, with the resultthat the joints are often made up too tightly which is also damaging tothe connection elements of the pipe strings.

it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved.tonging device in which both the backup tong and the drive tong formelements of an integrated device which obviates the disadvantages ofexisting tonging arrangements, such as are described above.

An important object is to provide a tonging device in which both tongsform elements of an integrated structure in which the positioning of thetongs at the operating level and the actuation of the drive tong arehydraulically performed.

A further object is to provide a hydraulically actuated tonging devicein which both tongs are mounted on a single supporting structure andinterconnected to obviate application of bending moment to the pipestring by the operation of the tong elements.

A more specific object is the provision of a hydraulically actuatedtonging device in which both the back-up and drive tongs are pivotallysupported on a common pedestal which is adapted to be verticallyadjusted to accordwith the vertical position of a joint to be engaged bythe tongs.

Still another object is to provide a tonging device of the characterdescribed in which the pipe-gripping heads are rotatable through anglesof 180 in their respective handle elements, whereby the tongs may beused for either making-up or breaking-out pipe sections, as may berequired.

A further object is the provision of a tonging device of the generalcharacter described in which the drive tong is provided with anauxiliary pivoted support with which the tong is slidably engaged duringswinging movement of the tong.

back-up tong, and an "upper tong,

2,871,743 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 Other and more specific objects andadvantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a useful embodiment in accordancewith this invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tonging device, showing the tongs in thebreaking-out position with the back-up tong engaged with a pipe sectionand the drive tong in open position removed from the pipe;

I Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the device viewed from line 2-2of Fig. 1, some of theparts being broken away for purposes ofillustration;

Fig. 3 is aside elevational view, partly in section, of the deviceviewed from line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 1, showing both tongs inengagement about the pipe in two breaking-out positions; and i Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 1, showing the back-up tong in the making-upposition, and the drive tong head open and in the breaking-out positionbut swung away from the pipe.

Referring to the'drawings, there is shown a pedestal structure,designated generally by the numeral 10, vertically supported on a basemember 11, which is of any suitable form by which the pedestal structuremay be securely attached to a foundation, such as a well derrick floor,or the like. Pedestal structure 10 includes a cylinder iizhaving itslower end secured near one end of an elongated base plate 13. Near itsopposite end, base plate 13 is provided with a depending pivot pin 14which is journalled in a bearing plate 15 which is supported on basemember 11 and secured thereto by means of cap screws 16. Anti-frictionbearings, such as roller bearings 17, are positioned between bearingplate 15 and base plate 13 surrounding pivot pin 14, and a secondantifriction bearing 18 is disposed about pivot pin 14 between bearingplate-'15 and a washer 19 underlying bearing 18 and secured by a nut 20threadedly mounted on the lower end of pivot pin 14 With the pedestalsupport arrangement just described, it will be seen that pedestalstructure 19 may swing freely in a horizontal. plane about pivot pin 14.

Slidably mounted about the exterior of cylinder 12 is an elevatingsleeve 21, which is free to move vertically along cylinder 12. A piston22 is slidably positionedin cylinder 12 and is secured to a piston rod23 which extends upwardly through cylinder 12 and has itsupper endsecured to sleeve 21 as by means of a spider 24, or the like. With thisarrangement, it will be seen that reciprocation of piston 22 in cylinder12 will correspondof pipe 25, hydraulic fluid may be admitted intocylinder 12 below piston 22 to elevate the latter and thereby elevatesleeve 21. By releasing fluid from beneath piston 22 through pipe 25,piston 22 is allowed -to descend, thereby permitting sleeve 21 todescend correspondingly. The tonging device, designated generally by thenumeral 26, is supported on sleeve 21 and may, therefore, be raised orlowered by the raising and lowering of sleeve 21 through operation ofpiston 22, as previously described,

Tonging device 26 includes a'lower tong, designated generally by thenumeral 27, which is designated as the designated generally by thenumeral 28, which is designated the drive tong. The vertical spacingbetween the tongs is such as' will permit thetongs to be efiectivelyapplied to'the respective upper and lower elements of any conventionalthreaded point or coupling employed to connect sections of a pipe stringtogether. Back-up tong 27 includes a tubular arm 29 and a pipe-grippinghead 30, of any conventional type commonly employed in oil field pipetongs of the general character here described, and it will be understoodthat the present invention is not directed to the specific character orform of the pipe-gripping heads, as such. The head 30 is rotatablyconnected to arm 29 by means of a cylindrical shaft 31 which extendsinto the bore of one end of arm 29 and is rotatable therein. Arm 29carries a spring latch for securing head 30 in a selected position. Thisspring latch comprises a latch pin 32 which extends radially through ahousing 33 which surrounds an opening 34 in arm 29 through which theinner end of latch pin 32 projects. A coil spring 35 surrounds latch pin32 and has one end bearing against the interior of housing 33 and theother end against an abutment 36 mounted on the latch pin, so as tonormally bias the inner end of the latch pin toward the interior of arm29. The outer end of latch pin 32 carries a head 37 by which the latchpin may be gripped to pull it outwardly against the resistance of coilspring 35. Shaft 31 is provided at diametrically opposite points withrecesses 38 registering with opening 34 and adapted to receive the innerend of latch pin 32.

.Thus When latch pin 32 engages one of the recesses 38,

head 30 will be locked in the back-up position, which may be thebreaking-out position, and when latch pin 32 is engaged in the otherrecess 38, head 30 will have been rotated 180 from its previous positionto be in the backup position for the make-up of pipe sections.

The several elements comprising upper tong 28 are in all respectsidentical with those comprising tong 27 and include the tubular arm 29a,head 30a, connecting shaft 31a, and identical latch elements for lockingthe head in either the make-up or break-out positions.

At the end opposite head 30, lower arm 29 is mounted on sleeve 21 forrotation in a horizontal plane, being pro vided with a journal 38surrounding sleeve 21 and supported on a flange 39 mounted on sleeve 21and secured in place by a second flange 40 mounted on sleeve 21 abovejournal 38. Anti-friction bearings 41, of any suitable type, arepositioned between journal 38 and flanges 39 and 40 .to permit freeswinging movement of arm 29 about sleeve 21.

A horizontally disposed support bracket 42a is pivotally supported onthe upper end of sleeve 21 and supports on its upper surface ahorizontally disposed hydraulic cylinder 42 in which is slidably mounteda piston 43 (Fig. 3) carried on a piston rod 44, which projects throughthe end of cylinder 42 and is pivotally secured to the end of arm 29a ofdrive tong 28 by means of a wrist pin 45 which projects through thebifurcated end 46 (Figs. 2 and 3) of arm 29a and through a journal 47acarried by the outer end of piston rod 44. A guide rod 47, to stifiienpiston rod 44 during its reciprocatory movement, is positioned abovecylinder 42 and parallel thereto, slidably mounted in bearings 4848secured to cylinder 42. The end of guide rod 47, adjacent the outer endof piston rod 44, is provided with a journal 49 registering with journal47a, and wrist pin 45 extends through journal 49, spacer 50, bifurcatedend 46 and journal 47a, so that arm 29a will be pivotally connected toboth the end of piston rod 44 and guide rod 47.

Conduits 51 and 52, for introducing and discharging hydraulic fluid fromcylinder 42 for reciprocating piston 43, are shown connected to oppositeends-of cylinder 42. It will be understood that by introducing hydraulicfluid into cylinder 42 on one side of piston 43, the latter will becaused to push or drive the free end of tong 28 in one direction whileintroduction of hydraulic fluid into the opposite end of cylinder 42will act against the piston to reverse the direction of movementimparted to the end of drive tong 28. A pivoted cantilever support arm53 is horizontally positioned between upper and lower tongs 28 and 27,respectively. At one end support arm 53 is pivotally supported betweenbearing or hinge plates 55 55 carried by the end of bracket 42a andprojecting to one side of the vertical axis of pedestal 10. A hinge pin56 extends through the hinge plates 55 and a journal 57 in the end ofsupport arm 53. The pivot point for arm 53 formed by hinge pin 56 isthus laterally offset with respect to the pivot point for back-up tong27. At its opposite or outboard end support arm 53 is provided with anupwardly opening longitudinal guide recess 58 for slidably receiving apivot pin 59 which is secured, intermediate the ends of drive tong 28,being conveniently secured to the forward end of arm 29a by means of aremovable collar 59a and arranged thereon to project downwardly intorecess 58. The lower end of pivot pin 59 is provided with a rounded head60 adapted to slide smoothly in an arcuate groove 61 formedlongitudinally in the bottom of recess 58, and ring-shaped bearings 62are rotatably mounted about the pivot pin 59 above head 60 to provideanti-friction bearings engageable with the side walls of recess 58 toprevent binding of the pivot pin in recess 58.

With the arrangement just described, it will be seen that support arm 53provides a sliding pivoted support for drive tong 28, while acting alsoas a guide for the drive tong as the latter is swung to and fro by thereciprocation of piston rod 44.

The above-described tonging deviceis operated in the following manner:Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the device is shown at twopositions in the breaking-out operation. Back-up arm 27 is secured tothe lower element P of a screw coupling connecting sections of a pipestring (Fig. 2) with head 30 in the back-up position, to preventcounter-clockwise rotation of the lower pipe section. Drive tong 28 issecured about the upper coupling element P with its head 30a in thebreakingout position; that is, a position in which it will grip the pipewhen turned in the counter-clockwise direction. With the tongs thus inplace fluid pressure will be exerted by hydraulic fluid introducedalternately through connections 51 and 52 to reciprocate piston rod 44,whereby to oscillate drive tong 28, which will unscrew upper couplingelement P from lower coupling element P Fig. 4 shows the position of thedrive tong at the point where it is about to begin an unscrewing strokeon the pipe, and Fig. 5 illustrates the position of the drive tong atthe completion of a break-out or counter-clockwise stroke. As the drivetong is oscillated by the action of the piston rod, guide pin 59 willslide longitudinally in recess 58 and the free end of support arm 53will swing in accordance with the oscillatory movement of the drivetong, at the same time providing support for the drive tong in itsmovements. By reason of the pivoted connections between support arm 53and support bracket 42a, together with the inter-relationships of thelatter with back-up tong 27 and drive tong 28, the action engaged in bythe drive tong with support arm 53 will be a sort of scissoring movementwhich will also serve to limit or absorb the horizontal thrust of thedrive tong relative to the back-up tong, so as to obviate theapplication of any substantial bending moment to the pipe string duringoperation of the tongs.

To employ the tonging device for making-up joints of the pipe, heads 30and 30a will be rotated from the positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4and 5, the rotation being effected by pulling out latch pins 32 andturning the heads 180 in the respective arms 29 and 29a and re-insertingthe latch pins in the appropriate recesses in the shafts 31 and 31a.

Fig. 6 illustrates the positions of the heads in the makeup position,and the operation of swinging the drive tong will be the same aspreviously described, but the reversed heads will cause the pipe sectiongripped by the pipe tong to be driven in the make-up direction in thiscase. In making-up joints, the extent to which the joint is made-up maybe regulated by controlling the application of hydraulic fluid to thedrive tong cylinder by generally conventional means, such as pressurerelief valves (not shown) which will open upon attainment of apre-determined pressure in the system, and thereby limit the magnitudeof the make-up force applied to the tong.

Since, in making-up or breaking-out well pipe strings, the joints willnot always be at the same level above the derrick floor, the tongingdevice may be raised or lowered, as may be required, to align it withthe position of the pipe joint to be worked upon. This is accomplishedsimply by introducing pressure fluid into cylinder 12 be low piston 22,in order to raise the tonging device and by releasing fluid from beneathpiston 22, the tonging device will be lowered, as may be desired ornecessary.

It will be understood that the several hydraulic fluid conduitsconnected to connections 25, 51 and 52 may lead to a control stand (notshown) of generally conventional design fitted with the usual controlvalves, gages, pressure relief valves and the like, where the operatormay manipulate the various hydraulic control elements for directinghydraulic fluid to and from cylinders 12 and 42, as may be required forraising andloweringthe tongs and for driving the drive tong when thelatter has been engaged with a pipe section.

By means of the hydraulically-operated tonging device above-described,the disadvantages inherent in more conventional pipe handlingarrangements will be obviated or eliminated; the operation of making-upand breakingout the pipe strings will be greatly speeded up, and theforces applied to the joints in making-up will be controlled and limitedas desired and as noted previously. Bending moment will be eliminatedfor all practical purposes. I

The pivoted connections between the pedestal structure, the tongs andsupport arm 53 provide a large measure of flexibility in adjusting thetongs to the pipe and any danger of binding of the parts in theoperation of the structure is avoided. The oft-set position of thepedestal on its pivoted base elements provides an additional freedom ofmovement and adjustability for the device with respect to the pipestring when the apparatus has been secured to the foundation on which itis mounted.

It will be understood that numerous changes and modifications may-bemade in the details of the illustrative embodiment within the scope ofthe appended claims but without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe tong device, comprising, a vertically disposed pedestalmember, a pair of pipe tongs supported in horizontal vertically spacedpositions from said pedestal member, the lower one of said tongs havingone end pivotally connected to the pedestal member, a horizontallyextending support arm disposed between said tongs and pivotallyconnected at one end to said pedestal member to swing in a horizontalplane, means forming a longitudinally slidable pivoted connectionbetween the free end portion of the support arm and an intermediatepoint on the upper one of said tongs, and means mounted on the pedestaland connected to the free end of said upper tong for oscillating thesame in a horizontal plane about said pivoted connection.

2. A pipe tong device according to claim 1 wherein each of said pipetongs comprises an elongate handle member, a pipe-gripping headrotatably connected to said handle member, and releasable latch meansfor locking said head to said handle member in a selected angularposition relative thereto.

3. A pipe tong device, comprising, a vertically disposed pedestalmember, pair of pipe tongs supported in horizontal vertically spacedpositions from said pedestal member, the lower one of said tongs havingone end pivotally connected to the pedestal member, a horizontallyextending support arm disposed between said tongs and pivotallyconnected at one end to said pedestal member to swing in a horizontalplane, means forming a longitudinally slidable pivoted connectionbetween the free end portion of "d the support arm and an intermediatepoint on -the upper one of said tongs, and pressure fluid-actuated meansconnected to the free end of said upper tong for oscillating the same ina horizontal plane about said pivoted connection.

4. A pipe tong device according to claim 3 wherein said pressurefluid-actuated means comprises a horizontally disposed cylinder mountedon the pedestal member, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a pistonrod connected to the piston and projecting from the cylinder andpivotally connected to said free end of said upper tong, and means forconducting pressure fluid to said cylinder for actuating said piston.

5. A pipe tong device, comprising, pedestal means including a verticallyreciprocable pedestal member, a pair of pipe tongs supported inhorizontal vertically spaced positions from said pedestal member, thelower one of said tongs having one end pivotally connected to thepedestal member, a horizontally extending support arm disposed betweensaid tongs and pivotally connected at one end to said pedestal member toswing in a horizontal plane, means forming a longitudinally slidablepivoted connection between the free end portion of the support arm andan intermediate point on the upper one of said tongs, pressurefluid-actuated means mounted on the pedestal member and connected to thefree end of said upper tong for oscillating the same in a horizontalplane about said pivoted connection, and pressure fluidactuated means insaid pedestal means for reciprocating said pedestal member.

6. A pipe tong device according to claim 5 wherein said last-mentionedpressure fluid-actuated means includes an upright cylinder slidablysupporting said pedestal member, a piston reciprocable in said cylinderand connected to said pedestal member, and means for conducting pressurefluid to said cylinder for actuating said piston.

7.. A pipe tong device, comprising, a vertically disposed pedestalmember, a pair of pipe tongs supported in horizontal vertically spacedpositions from said pedestal member, the lower one of said tongs havingone end pivotally connected to the pedestal member, a horizontallyextending support arm disposed between said tongs and having one endpivotally connected to said pedestal member at a point spaced laterallyfrom the vertical axis thereof to swing in a horizontal plane, meansforming a longitudinally slidable pivoted connection between the freeend portion of the support arm and an intermediate point on the upperone of said tongs, said last mentioned means comprising anupwardly'opening longitudinal slot in the free end of said arm memberand a pivot pin secured to said upper tong and projecting downwardlyinto said slot, and means connected to the free end of said upper tongfor oscillating the same in a horizontal plane about said pivotedconnection.

8. A pipe tong device according to claim 7 wherein said last-mentionedmeans comprises pressure fluid-actuated piston means mounted 011 thepedestal member.

9. A pipe tong device, comprising, pedestal means including a verticallyreciprocable pedestal member, a pair of pipe tongs supported inhorizontal vertically spaced positions from said pedestal member, thelower one of said tongs having one end pivotally connected to thepedestal member, a horizontally disposed bracket member mounted on thepedestal member between the tongs, a horizontally extending support armhaving one end pivotally connected to the bracket member at a pointspaced laterally from the vertical axis of said pedestal member to swingin a horizontal plane, means forming a longitudinally slidable pivotedconnection between the free end portion of the support arm and anintermediate point on the upper one of said tongs, and fluidpressureactuated means mounted on the bracket member and connected tothe free end of the upper tong for oscillating the same in a horizontalplane about said pivoted connection.

10. A pipe tong device according to claim 9 wherein said fluidpressure-actuated means comprises a horizontally disposed cylindermounted on the bracket member, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, apiston rod connected to the piston and projecting from the cylinder, aguide rod slidably mounted on the exterior of said cylinder parallel tosaid piston rod, the projecting end of said piston rod and the adjacentend of the guide rod having a common pivoted connection to the free endof the upper tong, and means for conducting pressure fluid to saidcylinder for actuating said piston.

11. A pipe tong device, comprising, a vertically disposed rotatablepedestal means, a vertically reciprocable sleeve member mounted on thepedestal means, a pair of pipe tongs supported in horizontal verticallyspaced positions from said sleeve member, the lower one of said tongshaving one end pivotally connected to the sleeve member, a horizontallyextending support arm pivotally secured at one end to said sleeve memberat a point laterally spaced from the vertical axis of the sleeve member,means forming a longitudinally slidable pivoted connection between thefree end portion of the support arm and an intermediate point on theupper one of said tongs, and means mounted on the sleeve member andconnected to the free end of said upper tong for oscillating the same ina horizontal plane about said pivoted connection.

12.- A pipe tong device according to claim 11 wherein each of said pipetongs comprises an elongate handle member, a pipe-gripping headrotatably connected to said handle member, and releasable latch meansfor locking said head to the handle member in a selected angularposition relative thereto.

13. In a pipe tong device of the character described, a pipe tong,comprising, an elongate tubular handle, a

. pipe-gripping head, a cylindrical shaft having one end connected tosaid head and its other end rotatably inserted exterior of the handle, apair of recesses at diametrically opposite points on said insertedportion of the shaft adapted to receive the inner end of said latch pinwhen positioned in registration with said opening to lock the head tothe handle, and means resiliently biasing the latch pin inwardly of saidopening.

14. A pipe tong device, comprising, a base member attachable to asupporting foundation, a tubular cylinder rotatably mounted in uprightposition on said base memher, a sleeve member slidably enclosing saidcylinder and vertically reciprocable relative thereto, a support bracketmounted on the upper end of the sleeve member and having a portionprojecting laterally to one side of the vertical axis of the sleevemember, upper and lower pipe tongs each comprising a pipe-gripping headand an elongate handle, the lower pipe tong being disposed below saidbracket and having its handle end journalled about the sleeve member toswing in a horizontal plane relative thereto, a laterally extendingsupport arm having one end journalled in the laterally projectingportion of said bracket to swing in a horizontal plane above the lowerpipe tong, said upper pipe tong being horizontally disposed above andsupported by said support arm, means forming a longitudinally slidablepivoted connection between said support arm and said upper pipe tong,said means comprising an upwardly opening longitudinal guide slot in thefree end portion of the support arm and a pivot pin secured to a pointon the upper pipe tong intermediate the ends of its handle andprojecting downwardly therefrom into said guide slot, pressurefluid-actuated means connected to the handle of said upper pipe tong tooscillate the tong about said pivoted connection, and fluidpressure-actuated means mounted in said cylinder and connected to saidsleeve member for reciprocating the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,450,934 Calhoun Oct. 12, 1948 2,544,639 Calhoun Mar. 13, 19512,639,894 Smith May 26, 1953 2,737,839 Paget Mar. 13, 1956 2,760,392Paget Aug. 28, 1956 2,850,929 Crookston et al. Sept. 9, 1958

